The Call to Discipleship: A Reflection on the LWF Global Young Reformers Regional Meeting Asia

The period from 16 to 19 April 2015 was a significant moment in the history of the Global Young Reformers Network (GYRN) when Young Reformer delegates from all over Asia met for the first time in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

At the meeting, I wore two hats, both as a member of the GYRN Steering Committee and a representative from the Lutheran Church of Singapore.

It was a meaningful discussion as we delegates from various Asian countries shared about the issues and challenges in our own local contexts. The issues were wide-ranging across different cultures and societies. Issues included climate justice, gender discrimination, growing religious intolerance, and challenges to marriage, family and sexuality. Yet others expressed concern about how, in the midst of growing urbanization, young people appeared less interested in the Lutheran liturgy and preferred charismatic forms of worship.

Although the issues appeared quite diverse, we quickly learnt from our discussions how these were all tied together in two key themes: discipleship and youth leadership. Indeed, these themes summarize not only the challenges but the solutions to the struggles of our times.

The call to discipleship is summed up in two simple words, which Jesus issued to His disciples: “Follow me.”

In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts the point poignantly:

An abstract Christology, a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge on the subject of grace or on the forgiveness of sins, render discipleship superfluous, and in fact that positively exclude any idea of discipleship whatever, and are essentially inimical to the whole conception of following Christ… Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.

The call of our generation is to follow Jesus Christ – not a just set of abstract doctrines, rules, principles and moral codes, but a Person – and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:29-30).

Furthermore, youth leadership is all about what we are as GYRN, a global network of young reformers who seek to make a change not only to our churches, but our communities and societies at large.

In the Book of Acts, we read of how a small group of disciples “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) with their passion for the Gospel.

This leaves us with the question: Will a generation arise that will do the same in our lifetime? Will we dare to go against the grain and swim against the tide by upholding both Truth and Love, even if it costs us everything?